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Research has shown that youths are not consulted or involved in decision-making processes, monitoring, evaluation and planning of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).

This is improper as some of their needs are not being addressed because they will not be there to express their concerns.

Speaking on the sidelines of a two-day International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Youth Engagement meeting recently, UNFPA Adolescents Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) Programme Analyst Pennelope Kasere said youths should be involved in the planning and execution of Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) interventions if Zimbabwe is to address the problems affecting young people.

Kasere said Zimbabwe had made giant steps in addressing issues affecting young people, but more still needs to be done to increase uptake of SRHR services.

“We are taking stock of the progress made so far, where the gaps are and what more needs be done, like where is the unfinished business as it pertains to commitments and targets that were set on ICPD. A lot of progress has been made, but there are quite a number of gaps,” she said.

Kasere said some of the commitments that relate to young people, which were made at the ICPD, include achieving universal access to primary and secondary education and there have been significant strides in that area.

Young people’s inclusion in SRHR is crucial as they are the ones who know what they want, therefore, nothing can be decided about them without them.

To promote access to inclusive SRHR and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) information, young people need to be included in the planning and implantation of those programmes.

Young people have the fundamental right to meaningfully participate in decision-making processes when it comes to programmes or policies that affect their lives.

Meaningful participation should take place in all stages of decision-making: during development, implementation and evaluation.

Whether the programme policy is big or small, young people should be included.

If the voice of youths is heard, programmes and policies can become more effective and can be adapted to the actual needs of young people. Most programmes that are developed for young people are not advanced by young people, and this usually limits the effectiveness of the programme.

More education should be given to these minors as some of them do not even know much about SRHR.

We have heard of many organisations working with youths to teach young people their sexual reproductive health rights, but this is mainly in tertiary institutions and in high schools.

This education should be extended to young people in rural areas, as only a few know about it, yet they are the ones who are largely affected. Youth participation in SRHR planning is their right according to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).

According to this UN Convention, everyone has the fundamental right to participate and access information related to decision-making processes that affect their lives and well-being.

The CRC enshrines participation as one of its guiding principles and a key element to the exercise of other rights. Article 12 of the CRC states, “Parties shall assure to the child, who is capable of forming his or her own views, the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child.

“For this purpose, the child shall in particular be provided the opportunity to be heard in any judicial and administrative proceedings affecting the child, either directly, or through a representative or an appropriate body, in a manner consistent with the procedural rules of national law.”

It is young people’s right to participate in decision-making on issues that affect their lives. Through the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the global community has committed to leave no one behind, including the youths.

To make this commitment a reality for young persons, governments must invest in youths and ensure that young persons have the opportunities, knowledge and skills they need to live healthy, fulfilled, and productive lives.

There is, therefore, need for holistic and sustainable solutions that accelerate increased participation of youths to SRHR planning for young people.